Vibratory concrete placer

ABSTRACT

A vibratory concrete placer having an auger with a shaft and auger flights all rotatable for moving concrete therealong. A hopper is disposed above the auger flights for feeding concrete to the auger, and a disc rotates with the auger and is spaced to the side of the flights and has a roller in rolling contact with the face of the disc to the side opposite the flights. The disc face then has depressions therein and the roller rolls into the depressions and thereby permits the auger to move axially toward the roller, and, when the roller rolls out of the depressions, the auger is forced in the other direction, and thus the vibratory motion is created and is against the resistance of the concrete on the auger flights. A limiting roller is on the other side of the disc for restraining the movement of the assembled auger and disc in that direction.

ilnited States Patent 1 1 Braun [111 3,771,897 1451- Nov. 13, 1973 [22] Filed: May 1, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 249,264

[52] US. Cl 415/72, 259/5, 259/169,

[51] Int. Cl. F04d 25/06 [58] Field of Search 415/72; 74/22 R,

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,618,903 11/1971 Ronner 259/5 2,780,106 2/1957 Lovequist 74/22 1,169,954 2/1916 l-lalliday 74 22 1,607,082 11/1926 Howcott 415/72 2,411,971 12/1946 MacMillin et a1. 415/72 2,505,125 4/1950 List 415/72 3,346,242 10/1967 List 259/5 Primary Examiner-C. J. Husar AttorneyArthur J. Hansmann [57] ABSTRACT A vibratory concrete placer having an auger with a shaft and auger flights all rotatable for moving concrete therealong. A hopper is disposed above the auger flights for feeding concrete to the auger, and a disc rotates with the auger and is spaced to the side of the flights and has a roller in rolling contact with the face of the disc to the side opposite the flights. The disc face then has depressions therein and the roller rolls into the depressions and thereby permits the auger to move axially toward the roller, and, when the roller rolls out of the depressions, the auger is forced in the other direction, and thus the vibratory motion is side of the disc for restraining the movement of the assembled auger and disc in that direction.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEU 80V 1 3 I975 SHEET 2 BF 2 .IPIL

VIBRATORY CONCRETE PLACER.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Concrete placers are already known in the art, and they exist in many different forms. The major function, and accordingly the major concern, of a concrete placer is to receive wet concrete and to force it through the placer and to the outlet point where the concrete is desired. In the construction and function of this equipment, consideration must be given to the fact that the concrete is a mixture of various materials, including water and stone, and these various materials react differently to the forces applied in endeavoring to. pump the wet concrete. For instance, in the instance of a concrete placer which would utilize an auger, the ingredients in the wet concrete are usually separated from each other to a great degree such that the aggregate or stone no longer remains suspended in the mix. Such separation of the mix not only ruins the quality of the mix but it creates a problem for the mechanical parts of the placer, including the problem of clogging or plugging the placer. Further, an auger does not have the capacity for producing the pressure required at the outlet end of the auger, as far as the placement of concrete is concerned.

For the aforementioned reasons, augers have not been commonly used in the placement of concrete, though augers are efficient and convenient for movement of many forms of materials which are susceptible to flow. Even where other concrete placer equipment is used, there is commonly the requirement for elaborate hydraulic and electric controls, and these are always subject to failure and they are expensive.

Accordingly, it is a general object of this invention to provide a concrete placer which overcomes the aforementioned problems. In accomplishing this general object, it is also significant to mention that the placer of this invention is relatively inexpensive and easy to manufacture and operate, and it is efficient and reliable in its operation and is also readily susceptibleto any necessary maintenance or repairs.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a concrete placer which utilizes an auger, and to arrange the placer so that the auger will notencounter the aforementioned problems of separation of the mix and inadequate pressure in the movement of the concrete. In the actual accomplishment of this objective, the placer of this invention provides mechanism for axial vibration or displacement of the auger so that the mix is properly forced through the placer.

In accomplishing this object, the auger is used in its common manner of rotating and to thereby direct the wet concrete from a hopper and into the space surrounding the auger, and the vibratory motion applied to the auger then creates the necessary force .and pressure on the concrete at the end of the auger flights or screw.

Still another and more specific object of this invention is to provide a concrete placer which utilizes an auger for an efficient and simplified mechanism and which is arranged such that the reaction force of the concrete on the auger is utilized to-move the auger in one direction, and then the placer mechanism is required only for moving the auger in the opposite direction to create the vibratory motiondesired.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon reading the following description in light of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a preferred embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is anaxial end elevational view of a disc shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of FIG. 2. I

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG.- 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The placer of this invention is shown to have a frame, generally designated 10, and an auger assembly, designated 11, is rotatably supported by the frame 10. There is an auger shaft 12, and an auger screw, or flights 13, is affixed to the shaft so that the assembly 1 l rotates as a unit, and the direction of rotation is clock-wise, as viewed from a driving member 14 which is splined to a piece 16 keyed to the shaft 12. Thus the member 14 may be under the influence of any suitable power supply, and'the piece 16 is rotatably related to the shaft 12 by means of the key 17 in the shaft keyway 18. Here it will also be noticed that the placer has a frame piece 19 supporting a needle bearing 21 which rotatably supports the shaft end just described. Another needle bearing 22 is supported in the frame piece 23, and the hearing 22 in turn rotatably supports the mid-portion of the shaft 12, as shown.

The end of the shaft 12 then has the auger flights l3 extending through a concrete hopper 24 and through outlet conduit 27 attached thereto. Thus, concrete dropped into the hopper 24 is engaged by the auger and is moved through the housing 26 and into the outlet conduit 27 which leads to the job site or location for placement of the concrete, as desired. A seal 28 is located along the mid-portion of the shaft 12 to prevent the concrete from moving to the left of the seal 28, as viewed in FIG. 1.

To induce the reciprocating or vibratory motion desired, so that the auger 11 moves axially, a disc 29 is affixed to the shaft 12 by means of welding to the piece 31 at the welding32 and through the connector 33. Thus, the disc 29 rotates with and is axially movable with the shaft 12. The disc 29 has a hardened face plate 34 secured thereto, and this may be by screws, and the plate 34 presents an irregular surface or face 36 as formed by pockets or depressions 37 in the face 36 and as seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. Thus the depressions 37 are spaced-apart on the face of the plate 34 and are on a circle, as seen in FIG. 2. Also disposed on that circle is an abutment member in the form of a roller 38 which is rotatably supported on the frame 10. Thus, plates 39 are secured to the frame piece 41 by means of the bolt 42, and the plates support a shaft 43 in a fixed position, and the shaft 43 in turn rotatably supports the roller 38. It will therefore be understood that the roller 38 is in rolling contact with the plate face 36, and the roller is in line with the pockets or depressions 37 so that the roller moves into and out of the depressions 37 when the auger and the attached disc 29 are rotated. It will therefore be understood that concrete in the hopper 24 will urge the auger 11 to the left, as viewed in FIG. 1, and this places the disc 29 in contact with the roller 38. Then, each time that the depressions 37, move to the roller 38, the auger 11 is axially reciprocated or vibrated, and, consequently, concrete in contact with the auger 11 is suitably moved through the placer in its uniform concrete mix, and adequate pressure is created in the reduced housing 26 so that the concrete is efficiently pumped by the placer.

To insure that the vibratory motion is controlled, a second roller 44 is supported on a frame piece 46 by means of plates 47 and a fixed shaft 48. Thus the roller 44 is in line with the roller 38 relative to the disc 29, so the roller 44 provides a limit for the motion of the auger l1 and disc 29 to the right, as viewed in FIG. 1, since the roller 44 can be in rolling contact with the disc face 49.

In this arrangement, the orientation of the auger flights 13, the direction of rotation of the auger 11, and the location of the roller 38 relative to the faces of the disc 29, all combine to induce the reciprocation or the vibratory motion desired. In this action, it will also be understood that the degree of displacement of the auger 11 for the axial motion is relatively short, and this is as desired for the purpose of the placement of the concrete without separating the ingredients of the concrete mix. Further, it will be seen and understood that when the auger I1 is to the left, as viewed in FIG. 1, and the roller 38 is in one of the depressions 37, then the roller 44 is spaced from the disc face 49, and this spacing is of course at least the depth of the depressions 37 in the disc 29, so the unit can operate as described and the roller 38 will be in rolling contact with the base of the depressions 37 as well as with the intervening surfaces 51 located between every two depressions 37 and on which the roller 38 will roll when the disc 29 is rotated past the roller 38. That is, the roller 44 is only a back-up roller which limits the axial movement of the auger 11 but which of course permits the full reciprocation of the auger 11 according to the depth of the depressions 37, as described.

In utilizing the auger assembly for the transporting and conveyance of concrete, it is therefore desirable that the vibrations or reciprocation be of very short strokes, and thus the roller and depressions which form a cam and cam follower mechanism are employed, as shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. A vibratory concrete placer comprising an auger having a rotatable shaft and auger flights affixed with said shaft and extending along one end thereof, mounting bearings for rotatably mounting said auger and permit axial movement thereof, a disc affixed to said shaft adjacent said auger flights and extending transverse to the axis of said shaft and having depressions therein for presenting an irregular surface on the side of said disc away from said auger flights, a first roller disposed in rolling contact with said irregular surface for inducing vibratory axial movement of said auger in accordance with rotation of said irregular surface over said first roller, and, a second roller rotatably mounted adjacent said disc on the side thereof opposite said irregular'surface to contact said disc for limiting vibratory motion in the direction toward said second roller.

2. The vibratory concrete placer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said auger is arranged with said auger flights and is rotated in a direction such that the concrete being moved thereby urges said disc against said first roller.

3. The vibratory concrete placer as claimed in claim 2, including a hopper disposed above said auger flights and in concreteflow communication therewith for directing wet concrete to said auger flights.

4. The vibratory concrete placer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said two rollers are aligned with each other on their opposite sides of said disc to balance the forces of said rollers on said disc.

5. The vibratory concrete placer as claimed in claim 4, wherein said second roller is spaced from said disc when said first roller is in one of said depressions in said disc, and with said spacing being at least approximately the dimension of the depth of said depressions. 

1. A vibratory concrete placer comprising an auger having a rotatable shaft and auger flights affixed with said shaft and extending along one end thereof, mounting bearings for rotatably mounting said auger and permit axial movement thereof, a disc affixed to said shaft adjacent said auger flights and extending transverse to the axis of said shaft and having depressions therein for presenting an irregular surface on the side of said disc away from said auger flights, a first roller disposed in rolling contact with said irregular surface for inducing vibratory axial movement of said auger in accordance with rotation of said irregular surface over said first roller, and, a second roller rotatably mounted adjacent said disc on the side thereof opposite said irregular surface to contact said disc for limiting vibratory motion in the direction toward said second roller.
 2. The vibratory concrete placer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said auger is arranged with said auger flights and is rotated in a direction such that the concrete being moved thereby urges said disc against said first roller.
 3. The vibratory concrete placer as claimed in claim 2, including a hopper disposed above said auger flights and in concreteflow communication therewith for directing wet concrete to said auger flights.
 4. The vibratory concrete placer as claimed in claim 1, wherein The said two rollers are aligned with each other on their opposite sides of said disc to balance the forces of said rollers on said disc.
 5. The vibratory concrete placer as claimed in claim 4, wherein said second roller is spaced from said disc when said first roller is in one of said depressions in said disc, and with said spacing being at least approximately the dimension of the depth of said depressions. 